Traveling case



April 29, 1958 D. R. NlcHoLs TRAVELING cAsE Filed July 18,l 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l @JI-ll@ April '29, 1958 D. R. NlcHoLs 2,832,447

TRAVELING cAsE Filed July 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f I l f MJ ""IIWIV l United States Patent() TRAVELlNG CASE Dixie R. Nichols, East St. Louis, lll. Application July 18, 1955, Serial No. 522,565

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 1904) The present invention relates to a traveling case, or cosmetics case, or the like. More specically, it involves a case that may be packed with any desired articles such as articles of clothing, cosmetics, etc., and closed and locked.

It is an object of the invention to provide in such a case secret or concealed compartments for containing money or other articles. It is a further object to provide such secret compartments in readily accessible places but with concealed securing means, so that even when the case is open it is not apparent that there are these hidden compartments, nor is it apparent how they could be opened if they were known. An especial object of the invention is to provide a case of this kind which has concealed compartments with hidden latching means for holding relatively at objects, including money.

Other objects will appear from the description to follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the case;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 to the right side of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section similar to Figure 3, but with the parts opened;

Figure 5 is a view of the cover of the case taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the main part of the case taken on the line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional `view of the main part of the case taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View of the lower part of the money compartment, similar to Figure 3 but enlarged;

Figure 9 is a front view of the panel for the money compartment; and

Figure 10 is a rear view of said panel.

In the drawings, the case is shown without trimming or covering material on it, and it is shown in the size and shape of a cosmetics box. These are not intended to be limitations. The box includes, however, a lower main section generally in the shape of a hollow box, and an upper cover 21. A hinge means such as the hinges 22 secures the cover to the main section.

The main section 20 has a bottom wall 24 and lateral walls comprising end walls 25 and 26, a rear wa1l27, and a front wall 28. The front Wall 28 extends between the end walls 25 and 26 but terminates above the bottom wall 24. A false bottom 29 extends from the lower edge of the front wall 28 to the back wall 27 and to the side walls 25 and 26. It provides, with these other walls, a compartment 30 below the apparent bottom of the case Aand opening to the front of the case.

There is a swinging front panel 31 hinged at 32 to the front of the bottom panel 24 and adapted to fit within the forward edges of the end panels 25 and 26. It hinges to its upper position illustrated in Figure 3, and is provided with a latching device of appropriate kind, here ice illustrated simply as consisting of a pushbutton type of latch device 35. This latch device is secured to the upper edge of the closure panel 31, and it can extend through a hole 36 in the main front panel 28 so as to latch the closure panel 31 in its upper position illustrated in Figure 3.

There is also a familiar suitcase lock 38 with its com plementary parts attached to the front of the cover 21 and the upper edge of the closure panel 31, by means of which the cover `21.may be tightly closed and locked to the main section 20 through interconnection of the edge of the lid and the top of the panel 31. i

At the back of the case there is a money compartment 40 formed with a short or narrow bottom wall 41 placed over the back part of the false bottom wall 29. The bottom wall 41 supports a hinged panel 42 that can swing outwardly and downwardly on a hinge 43 at the front edge of the narrow bottom wall 41. As .shown in Figures 7 and 8, the hinge 43 includes at each end thereof a coil torsion spring 431 that urges the closure panel 42 into vertical or closed position. The panel 42 may have a linger grip 44, by means of which it may be swung outwardly against the spring 431. At its upper edge the money compartment 40 has a narrow top wall 45 into which the front panel 42 tits. Inside the compartment, on the back of the panel 42, are placed paper money holding means 46, and coin holding means 47.

The entire inside surface of the lower section 20 is preferably lined. By way of illustration, the end walls have lining providing several pockets 48. There are similar pockets 49 on the front wall 28. A central such pocket 50 conceals the latch 35.

The rear wall is lined with an elastic lining 51 which preferably is stretched tightly along the forward edge of narrow upper wall 45 of the money compartment 40. This conceals the presence of the money compartment 40.

In use, the case may be used as an ordinary case. It is here illustrated as a cosmetics case having a place for various items used with cosmetics, as well as for the cosmetics themselves. Thus, the bottom surface may have loops for fingernail sticks, files, or toothbrushes and the like. Also, the various pockets around the edge can receive items useful in the similar connection. The cover 21 is shown with a mirror on its inside surface.

The rear edge liner 51 conceals the money compartment 40. The elastic top edge of this liner, however, permits the liner to be drawn forwardly, thereby disclosing the linger grip 44, by means of which the panel 42 may be drawn forward against its spring 431, giving access to the bill-receiving member 46 and the change receiver 47. The narrow rear top ledge 45 of this money compartment will not ordinarily arouse curiosity of someone opening the case or looking into the same, andtherefore the money compartment is concealed.

If the user wishes to get to the lower compartment 30, the latch 35 is operated, which permits the front panel 31 to swing down as illustrated in Figure 4. This gives access to the compartment 30. The compartment is shown as having a tray in it, although this is not necessary. This compartrnent is normally concealed, and its latch 35 is not opened to ordinary use.

It will be seen that with this case a person has a place to conceal items that the person does not desire to reveal each time the case is opened, and yet which can be readily reached when the need presents.

' What is claimed is:

l. A traveling case, comprising: a generally parah lelopiped main container section having vertical front, back and two side walls, and a bottom wall, one of the vertical walls being a short wall with a. space between it and the bottom wall; and a cover hingedly attached to the upper part of one of the vertical walls of the main section to swing into engagement with the upper edges of the vertical walls of the main section and to swing free thereof; a swinging panel overlying the short wall and hingedly attached to its lower edge to the adjacent walls, whereby it may be swung tfrom a closed posi- 2. The case of claim 1, wherein the elements inside i the case concealing the latch projection include a fabric tion overlying the short wall and flush against it, out- 5 vwaidly and downwardly from the rest of the section to an open position, a false bottom panel above the previously mentioned bottom wall, the `first bottom wall, the side, front, back and false bottom walls providing `a concealed compartment in the case when the hinged panel is closed; a latch device releasably latching the hinged panel to the short wall, the latch device having an operating projection extending inside the case, and elements inside the case normally concealing it from view, so that when the swinging panel is closed, 'the fact th'at it can be opened by the latch is concealed.

forming a pocket, the fabric being attached to the inside surface of the short wall.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 132,998 Yaw Nov. 12, 1872 1,311,586 Beecher July 29, 1919 1,514,885 Bigler 2 Nov. 11, 1924 1,755,475 Fairleigh A.; Apr. 22, 1930 1,884,402 Van Devanter Oct. 25, 1932 2,584,048 Ramsey Jan. 29, 1952 

